Audiobooks are getting more and more popular.
Many avid readers are trying to figure out whether it is better to read audiobooks or not.
Today, I will answer the question, should I listen to audiobooks?
Not only that, I will list quite a few reasons for my answer as well. Therefore, once you go through the article below, it will be easier for you to understand whether you should listen to audiobooks or not.
Should I listen to audiobooks?
You should definitely listen to audiobooks and prefer them over physical books because audiobooks have higher retention, customizable speed, time-saving nature, and eco-friendliness makes them better than reading.
I will go into the details of all these reasons below. In total, there are 9 compelling reasons why you should listen to audiobooks rather than reading physical ones.
1. More comprehension
One of the main advantages of listening to audiobooks is that the comprehension of the book increases significantly.
That is because most of the audiobooks are narrated by professional editors. Due to the same, they can convey their point across in a much better way.
The increased comprehension means that you will benefit more from every book. It is one of the primary reasons why you should resort to audiobooks rather than physical ones.
2. Higher retention
Normally, when you’re reading a book, you have to focus on what you’re reading. At times, distractions can make it difficult for you to focus. Even though you would be going through the lines, you do not grasp much of what you’re reading.
Listening to an audiobook is entirely different.
The narrator will be speaking with you. The rich experience of listening to an audiobook is such that someone is speaking with you. When that is the case, the retention which you have is excellent as well. You will be able to remember whatever the narrator is saying in a much better way.
The higher retention means that you can imbibe that knowledge and also act on it. The higher retention can undoubtedly change your life when it comes to audiobooks.
3. Convenient
Want to listen to audiobooks during the commute?
No worries!
Want to utilize your time while waiting at the doctor’s clinic?
No issues!
In the circumstances as well as various others, you can easily listen to the audiobook. Not always, reading the physical book is possible in all the circumstances. However, when you try audiobooks, you can listen to them almost anywhere.
Even if you have a few minutes of free time, you can easily play your audiobook. With the help of headphones, you will not disturb anyone else as well.
You can listen to audiobooks during your daily course as well.
The possibilities are endless. Audiobooks are much more convenient than physical ones, making them a good choice over physical books.
4. Time-saving
Usually, when you’re reading a physical book, it can take you 3 to 4 days to read the entire book. Sometimes, it can take you even more.
If you look at the duration of. The audiobooks can be anywhere from 2 hours to 4 hours. The less duration means that you will be able to complete them within a couple of days.
Since you can complete them whenever you want, even during the time when you’re traveling or waiting for someone, it means that completing audiobooks sooner is undoubtedly possible.
The time-saving nature of audiobooks means that if you’re devoting the same amount of time to audiobooks, you can cover more books. That will allow you to grasp a greater amount of knowledge as well.
In today’s busy world, a time-saving alternative to reading physical books is undoubtedly a significant benefit of switching over to audiobooks.
5. Eco-friendly
We all are trying to lead a more sustainable lifestyle. When you’re buying a physical book, the paper is often made from wood. It means that the more books you buy, the more deforestation you cause.
One of the easiest ways to switch over to a sustainable lifestyle is to resort to audiobooks. When you resort to audiobooks, your carbon footprint reduces significantly.
At the most, you will be using your mobile’s battery. To complete a single book, the amount of battery you need is minuscule. Consequently, your carbon footprint will certainly reduce when you’re resorting to audiobooks.
If you are looking for a more sustainable alternative to books, audiobooks certainly provide you with that.
6. Affordable
Want to save money while gaining more knowledge?
If so, audiobooks can help you with that as well. The cost of a new book can be upwards of $ 25. When you’re buying 3 to 4 books, that can quickly add up. You might end up spending $100 or more on just books.
When you look at the cost of audiobooks, that is around $10 or less. In a nutshell, at the cost of a single physical book, you can buy 3 to 4 audiobooks.
Consequently, resorting to audiobooks can undoubtedly help you save a lot of money as well. It is not only sustainable but good for your pocket as well.
7. Easy to build a collection
Most avid readers try to create a collection of books. There are quite a few problems in creating a collection of books.
Firstly, you have to set up a rack or a mini library to store these books. When you have just 10 to 20 books, this is not a problem. However, when your collection expands to over 50 to 60 books, you need to dedicate more space for those.
Not only that, with time, the pages of the book can turn yellow. They might become frail as well. In that case, it is not easy to read such a book. The experience also deteriorates.
There are quite a few problems that you can encounter when you’re trying to build a collection of physical books.
Building a collection of audiobooks is much easier. You can easily save the same on the cloud or in the audiobook subscription on your device. You will not need any extra space.
Not only that, when you buy the audiobook, you will have access to the same for a lifetime. You will not have to worry about the access going away or the experience deteriorating.
Creating a collection of audiobooks is much easier than physical books. It is another reason why you should switch over to audiobooks.
8. Excellent engagement
The level of engagement and listening to an audiobook is much higher. That is because it is like the narrator is speaking with you personally.
Reading 200 to 300 pages of a book can turn monotonous as well. The result is that you will not be able to grasp whatever you are reading.
On the other end, you do not face this problem when listening to an audiobook.
The excellent engagement is another benefit of audiobooks.
9. Can customize speed
Did you know that you can customize your listening speed with audiobooks?
Most apps provide you the option to listen at 1.25X, 2X, and even 3X. It means that when you select 3X, you can complete the book sooner. A book of 6 hours can be completed in just 2 hours.
You can easily customize the listening speed when resorting to audiobooks. The same is not possible while reading physical books.
As you can see, the benefits of listening to audiobooks are quite a few. That is why, instead of still being stuck with physical books, it is time to switch over to audiobooks.
I will now answer one of the fundamental questions revolving around audiobooks.
Is listening to audiobooks better than reading?
Yes, listening to audiobooks is certainly better than reading.
The benefits like higher retention, customizable speed, time-saving nature and Eco-friendly nature of audiobook certainly makes them better than reading. Whichever way you look at it, audiobooks certainly have numerous advantages over physical books.
Where to find audiobooks to listen to?
There are a few options you have when it comes to audiobooks. These include:
1. Audible
Audible is an audiobook subscription service. You can save money by subscribing to the service rather than buying each audiobook separately. You will get a single credit each month, with the help of which you can buy an audiobook.
You can buy audiobooks with money as well if you need more than one per month.
Moreover, once you buy an audiobook, you will always have access to it.
2. Audiobooks.com
Audiobooks.com is another audiobook subscription service that you can access. With a membership cost of just $14.95 per month, it is easy for you to access audiobooks. Not only that, it offers you access to over 150K titles.
Each month, you will get a single credit with the help of which you can access and buy an audiobook.
These are the two primary services through which you can easily access audiobooks online. With their vast collection, you will never be short of titles that you can listen to.
Do you count audiobooks as reading?
Yes, audiobooks do count as reading.
The reason for the same is that you gain the knowledge which you want by listening to an audiobook as well. That is why, after listening to an audiobook, you can certainly say that you have read the book.
So, listening to audiobooks definitely makes sense. In fact, listening to audiobooks provides you with quite a few advantages as well. I have gone into the details of all these advantages above. Once you go through the post, it will become easier for you to understand why you should prefer audiobooks over any other type of reading.
